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IRB revamp concussion protocols

The IRB has reaffirmed its commitment to player welfare with the announcement of enhancements to head injury assessments.

The IRB has reaffirmed its commitment to player welfare with the announcement of enhancements to the pitch-side head injury assessment process for elite Rugby.

The latest IRB-commissioned research into the pitch-side assessment of head injuries in elite Rugby conducted in 2012-13 has seen a drop in the number of concussed players returning to the field of play.

Accepted for publication in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the study highlights that prior to the global trial of the Pitch-side Suspected Concussion Assessment (PSCA) tool 56 percent of players assessed and left on the field of play were later determined to have sustained a concussion.

Since the PSCA trial began in 2012 the percentage has reduced to 13 percent with this reduction attributed to the combined strategy of education and implementation of the research-driven assessment.

Despite these positive results the IRB is committed to driving cultural change within the sport and further reducing the percentage.

Data from the trial has also enabled the IRB's independent concussion working group to identify enhancements to the PSCA tool, which is used to assess a player when the diagnosis of a head injury is unclear. If symptoms are evident the message remains recognise and permanently remove the player – the PSCA tool should not be used.

Two components of the PSCA tool have been expanded, with the memory test strengthened and the balance test altered, enhancing the information team and independent doctors have available to them when making a return to play decision.

In order to accommodate the expanded PSCA components and following a successful pilot trial, the IRB Executive Committee has approved an increase in the time permitted to undertake the assessment from five to 10 minutes. The new trial will operate from June 1.

“Concussion management and education sits at the very top of the IRB's player welfare strategies aimed at informing, supporting and protecting players at all levels of the game,” said IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper.

“The IRB centres its player welfare policies on evidence-based research and we are delighted that the data from this trial indicates we are making strong progress while informing the areas where we can continue to learn, improve and ultimately drive forward player welfare best-practice.

“Concussion is a serious public health issue that affects many sports. The PSCA has proven a successful part of our long-term commitment to educating and protecting players at all levels and driving cultural change.”

“As a process for the elite Game, the pitch-side assessment covers less than 0.5 per cent of the 6.6 million men, women and children playing Rugby worldwide and our key message to the community Game remains recognise and remove.”

The enhanced protocol comes with the full support of Unions and the world's top players.

“I applaud the significant steps that Rugby is taking in the area of head injury management. It is reassuring that the IRB is using research to drive forward policies and resources that protect and educate players at every level,” said England full-back Mike Brown.

“It is great to see Rugby leading the way in the critical area of concussion management, an aspect of the game we must continually look to improve,” said International Rugby Players' Association Executive Director Rob Nichol.

“The ability to remove a player from the field of play to allow a decent clinical assessment, and the introduction of the PSCA test to support that process has proven a positive development for the welfare of our elite players.”

“The requirement that if at any time a player in the elite Game displays the symptoms associated with suspected concussion, or fails the PSCA test, he must be permanently removed is clear. These refinements will further enhance the standard of care for elite players and coupled with strong education, continue to drive cultural change throughout the game.”